Impacts other dioceses

Impacts other dioceses

Bishop Franz Jung (archive) © Harald Oppitz (KNA)

According to Wurzburg Bishop Franz Jung, the crisis surrounding the handling of the abuse cases in the Archdiocese of Cologne is burdening the church in Germany as a whole. "We are as a church always also in a large liability community."

Jung said on Thursday evening in the "Rundschau" on BR television. If there was a conflict in one diocese, it would also affect the other dioceses. Nevertheless, they hope to be able to go a good way together and that the problems in Cologne "will hopefully be solved from 18 March onwards. March then solves".

Expert opinion in the archdiocese of Cologne

The Archdiocese of Cologne has been struggling for months to come to terms publicly with past cases of sexual abuse by clergymen. It is also a matter of naming those responsible who protected perpetrators and covered up crimes. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki has not allowed a first reappraisal report to be published because he considers it flawed and not legally sound; at the same time, he has announced a second report to be published on 18. to be presented in March.

Critics accuse Woelki of lack of clarification and poor communication.

Asked if Woelki's resignation would solve everything, Jung said that option is not on the table. On the other hand, it must be clarified whether clarification can really be provided now in the archdiocese of Cologne and whether the promise, namely to name all circumstances, names and responsibilities without reservation, will be kept.

Reappraisal with state authorities

At the same time, Jung explained that coming to terms with the abuse cases was taking longer because the church did not want to do it alone, but in consultation with the state authorities. The path had been sketched out accordingly. The idea was to set up an advisory board for the victims and then a commission to look into the matter.

Addressing the increasing number of people leaving the church, the bishop said people can only be won back by being sincere and showing that they are really serious about transparency: "Deeds must speak out." – Jung said at the end of the spring plenary meeting of the Catholic German Bishops' Conference. This had taken place from Tuesday to Thursday corona-conditioned for the first time exclusively digitally.

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Christina Cherry
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